Waves Of Visitors Expected As Boat Show Debuts Today

October 28, 1999|By BRITTANY WALLMAN Staff writer

FORT LAUDERDALE — If you like boats, the beach area will be heaven for the next several days, but getting there probably won't be.

The 40th Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show will increase traffic on the roads as well as the seas. Count on the roads to the show being clogged and expect ever-rising drawbridges, which are lifted on demand this time of year.

The boat show starts today, for those willing to purchase a "preview'' ticket at twice the price of a normal ticket. The idea behind the preview tickets is that today's crowds might be thinner. Then again, "thinner'' is relative.

Tens of hundreds of boats and yachts are floating in Fort Lauderdale this week, some of them more than four times the length of Greyhound buses. About 120,000 people are expected to come see them.

From today through Monday, the show, which stretches from the 17th Street Causeway area to the Las Olas Beach area, will pack the streets and waterways with people from around the world.

Everything from the most luxurious yachts ( about $20 million) to submarines, fishing supplies, clothing and art will be available. You can even pick up marine supplies like seat cushions that double as toilets.

City officials say the show means more to the city economically than the Super Bowl . The show is the world's largest in terms of the size and number of yachts, the promoter said.

"It's a very entertaining show, even if you don't have a boat,'' said Mayor Jim Naugle, himself a boat owner. "No tax dollars are used for it. It's the opposite. It just brings in money.''

Police spokesman Detective Mike Reed said the show's promoters will pay about $25,000 for extra security: 17 off-duty officers and civilian traffic-control officers today, 23 for each of the remaining days.

Another 12 officers are hired by Bahia Mar for on-site security.

Construction on the new 17th Street Causeway, a key path to the events, will be suspended during the show, said Neil Birenbaum, project spokesman.

State transportation officials had hoped the bridge contractor, Traylor Brothers of Evansville, Ind., would finish the new north span of the bridge before the show and offered the company a $1.25 million bonus to complete it by Aug. 22.

The work is still not complete, though it remains on schedule for its original timetable.

The Florida Department of Transportation won't let the work impede travelers to the show, Birenbaum said.

The rules of the market, however, may prevent some visitors from stepping aboard the most expensive yachts.

Last year, at least one woman complained that some yachts were off-limits to those who weren't serious buyers.

Show spokeswoman Geri Haber said many of the mega-yachts bring people aboard by appointment only. But that still leaves a lot of walk-on options.

"Well, you do have six sites here and over $1.5 billion of marine equipment on display,'' Haber said.

"With over 1,400 boats, there's plenty to go on.''

Brittany Wallman can be reached at bwallman@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4541.